You Should Take Advantage of These Back-to-School Discounts & Freebies—Here's How
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Is there such a thing as preparing too early for back-to-school? We think not. Parents know this all too well, and each summer a lot of money is spent on getting our children ready for school. So we need all the help from back-to-school discounts and freebies we can get. Some of us might be buying sets of school supplies, and some of us have the pleasure of sending off our college-age kids with gadgets, gear and dorm decor. Regardless of which level of learning your kid is embarking on this fall, discounts will make life just a tiny bit easier.
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There are a host of back-to-school discounts and deals available for parents and students alike. If you’re on the hunt for savings, here’s a breakdown of the stores with all the best deals. Plus, what we’re buying from each.
Best Back to School Deals at a Glance
Best for Accessories: Redbubble
Best for Homework Help: Amazon
Best for Art Supplies: Target
Best for Budget Finds: Walmart
Best for Clothes: Gap
Best for Shoes: DSW
Best for Eyeglasses: EyeBuyDirect
Best for Laptops: QVC
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Redbubble is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Redbubble
Whether your kid is obsessed with space or can’t stop talking about anime, allowing them to express their true selves this new school year (and beyond!) is key to building confidence. That’s where Redbubble comes in. Redbubble collaborates with over a million independent artists worldwide to create unique clothes, accessories, phone cases, and wall art—items that other kids in their class probably won’t have.
This back to school season, Redbubble is offering 30 percent off site-wide, so you’re sure to find just the right tee, backpack (like this cute strawberry design), or locker decorations that fit your kid’s ever-evolving interests.
Strawberries Backpack
Amazon
Some of us are old enough to remember the days when Amazon was a cool new place on the World Wide Web where you could buy your textbooks for less money than the campus bookstore. It actually still is that place — only now, Amazon offers some free online textbooks as well as others you can rent, for your Kindle or computer. What’s more, with a valid .edu email address, your kids can get a Prime Student Membership for free for the first six months, followed by an annual subscription for $69 (or $7.49 monthly). Other perks they’ll receive include 24/7 homework help, free food deliveries, free streaming of TV shows, movies, and music, free books, and early access to Amazon’s Lightning Deals.
Prime Student Membership
Price: $6 months free, then $7.49/month
Target
Target is one of our favorite retailers for all things back to school. You can get everything on your kids’ school supply list (and more) in one spot. Right now, Target has more than 50 percent off on select school supplies, like these Crayola markers for 62 percent off. Plus, if you need to snag some new home decor or comfortable loungewear, Target’s got you covered.
Crayola Markers Broad Line 10ct Classic
Price: $0.99 (originally $2.59)
Walmart
Don’t forget to check out Walmart. They now have a $1 section where you can find some great back-to-school deals. The dollar section has notebooks, pencils, and supply boxes for a buck and (way) under. You can also find clothes.
Back-to-School Supplies Under $1
Gap
It’s amazing how much a kid can grow in one year. For a major closet overhaul, stock up on back to school basics and beyond at Gap. From simple tees to cargo jeans to classic trench coats to cozy hoodies, Gap is a great option for filling out a wardrobe on a budget. Everything is currently 40 percent off with no code needed, and some items are even more affordable at 50 percent off.
Wide-Leg Ankle Jeans
DSW
If your kid’s feet grew a size or two over the summer, it’s time for new shoes. This back to school season, DSW is offering a buy one, get one 50 percent off sale, so what better time to stock up. (Use code READYSETBOGO.) They also have select styles from big sneaker brands, all kid-approved, up to 25 percent off. Shop Nike, Vans, Puma, and Sketchers for your little ones, then add a pair of on-sale Brooks or New Balance sneakers to your cart for you.
Puma Club II Era Sneaker
Price: $59.99 (buy one, get one 50 percent off)
QVC
QVC’s Back to School shopping hub is filled to the brim with discounts on tech essentials. Here, you’ll be able to snag a brand new laptop for hundreds off or grab a budget-friendly, ergonomic desk chair for long homework and study sessions. Our eyes are on this ASUS Chromebook that’s $100 off and a powerful, lightweight laptop that’ll get your kid through a grueling school year and nestle comfortably in their backpack.
ASUS Chromebook CX1500 15.6″ Celeron N4500 4GB Laptop
Price: $329.99 (originally $429.96)
EyeBuyDirect
As parents, we already know that we will probably have to replace our kids’ glasses 100 times this school season. Instead of having to spend a ton each time your kid breaks or loses a pair, plan ahead and stock up for less at EyeBuyDirect. They have an entire section of stylish frames up to 50 percent off, some with the option of two-day delivery for last-minute shoppers. And right now, you get 40 percent off lenses on orders more than $60 with code FUN40.
EyeBuyDirect Frames
Price: $23 (originally $45) and up
Other Deals to Shop
Apple
This year, Apple is offering college students discounts of up to $150 off Macs and iPads and 20 percent off AppleCare+. Students even get a special rate on Apple Music and free access to Apple TV+
Adobe
Arts students rejoice: Adobe offers full-time students and teachers deep discounts on a variety of their products, including over 60 percent off a Creative Cloud membership, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and more.
Other tech discounts
Looking for more student deals on technology supplies? Lenovo is having a huge back to school sale on laptops and PCs right now, with prices slashed by up to 70 percent. Samsung gives students, parents, and educators an extra 15 percent off tablets, laptops, smartphones, and more, if they can verify their I.D. at checkout.
Newspaper subscriptions
It’s never been easier for your child to stay in the know: Major newspaper chains offer discounts on their subscription services for students with a valid school email address. Deals include a student discounted rate for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Printable workbooks
Parents of younger children can get downloadable, printable workbooks and coloring sheets online from Scholastic. You can find everything from reading and writing resources to parent resources. The publishing company also offers supplemental math lessons for students in grades Pre-K to middle school. Additional resources include games, lesson plans, and activities.
Clothing, Shoes, & Backpacks
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the current back-to-school sales happening at our favorite stores. Old Navy will not be outdone as back-to-school discount headquarters, with kids clothing going for less than $10 an item right now.
Kids of all ages can get discounts on clothing at retailers like J.Crew, Levi’s, and ASOS. Discounts range from 10 to 20 percent for students with a valid I.D.
Meditation App
School is stressful no matter where you’re living. The meditation app Headspace recognizes this and offers students annual subscriptions for 85 percent off, just $9.99, a steep discount from the usual $69.99.
Everything Else
College students can sign up for free services like UniDays, which offers student discounts on just about anything and everything that they need to function, from food delivery to clothing to magazine and digital subscriptions.
Coupons
If you’re willing to do the extra work of clipping coupons, you can find a number of great back-to-school coupons at major retailers like Staples, Office Depot, Walmart, and Walgreens. Weekend newspapers also typically have extra coupons for school supplies. Lastly, you can find plenty of coupons online for specific products. While it takes a little bit more work, the discounts may be worth it for individual items.
Shop tax-free
Some states denote specific weekends in August and September for tax-free back-to-school shopping. Parents can get clothing, computers, books, and school supplies tax-free in their state. Though tax only makes up a small percentage of your overall purchase, those savings can add up over time.
What to do if you’re in a bind
If your back-to-school shopping list becomes more costly than what you had budgeted, it’s best to look for freebies instead of going into debt.
If you’re in a pinch and need more supplies, contact your child’s school. Chances are they purchased extra school supplies for children and parents. Sometimes teachers will set aside part of their classroom budget to buying extra school supplies for their students. Or you may have better luck contacting your school’s district — they often have a program set up that gives donated school supplies away. Backpack drives through charitable organizations like the Kids in Need Foundation usually distribute their supplies through teachers and schools.
For those who want to help others this year, programs like Operation Backpack, which gets school supplies to kids in homeless and domestic violence shelters in New York, requests monetary donations rather than actual supplies.
While this annual shopping spree can be stressful on you and your wallet, the best way to handle your ever-growing to-do list is to make a plan. Setting a budget, doing your research, and hunting for the best deals will keep your shopping as smooth as possible.
Make back-to-school shopping more fun with these supplies.
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